Potential form: ru-verbs (～られる)

Japanese verbs come in two main flavors: u-verbs and ru-verbs. Today, we are focusing strictly on the ru-verbs (Ichidan verbs). These are the friendly ones that end in ~eru or ~iru. Think of taberu (to eat) or miru (to see). To make them "potential," we swap their endings. The potential form tells the world what is possible. It does not mean you are doing the action right now. It means the door is open for that action to happen. One cool thing happens with particles here. Often, the object particle wo changes to ga. This highlights the thing you "can" do. For example, ringo wo taberu becomes ringo ga taberareru. It is a subtle shift that feels very natural to native ears.

1. 1Changing ru-verbs is a simple three-step process.
2. 2Start with the dictionary form of a ru-verb (e.g., neru).
3. 3Chop off the final ru. Now you have the stem (e.g., ne).
4. 4Glue on the magical suffix rareru.
5. 5Let's look at some quick transformations:
6. 6taberu (eat) → tabe + rareru = taberareru (can eat)
7. 7miru (see) → mi + rareru = mirareru (can see/watch)
8. 8oshieru (teach) → oshie + rareru = oshieraru (can teach)
9. 9okiru (wake up) → oki + rareru = okirareru (can wake up)
10. 10Yes, the words get quite long! It feels like a mouthful at first. Just remember: if it ends in iru or eru, it's usually a ru-verb. Just drop the ru and add the long rareru. You've got this!

Use this form when you want to talk about your skills. "I can speak Japanese" or "I can play the piano." It is perfect for job interviews. You can list all the amazing things you are capable of doing. Another great use is for situational possibility. Can you eat at that famous restaurant without a reservation? yoyaku nashi de taberareru? It is also used for physical ability. Maybe you are so full you can't eat another bite. mou taberarenai! Use it when asking for permission in a roundabout way too. "Can I see that document?" feels polite in this form. It is also great for expressing potential outcomes. "If we hurry, we can catch the train." It is the grammar of opportunity.

Don't use ~られる for things that happen naturally. For example, hearing a sound or seeing a view. For those, we use special verbs like kikoeru and mieru. If you say ongaku ga mirareru, it sounds like you are physically able to watch music. That's a bit weird, right? Also, avoid using it for things you have no control over. You wouldn't say "the rain can fall" using this form. It is mostly for human (or animal) actions. Don't use it when you are actually doing the thing. If you are eating, just use the present tense. Save the potential form for the *ability* to eat. Think of it like a grammar traffic light. It only turns green when ability or possibility is the main topic.

The biggest "oops" is the "Ra-nuki" phenomenon. This is when people drop the ra and say tabereru instead of taberareru. It is extremely common in casual speech. In fact, you will hear it everywhere in Tokyo! However, on a formal test like the JLPT, it is technically a mistake. Stick to the full rareru in writing. Another mistake is forgetting the particle change. While wo is becoming more acceptable, ga is the gold standard. Using wo can sometimes sound a bit "clunky" to older speakers. Also, don't confuse this with the passive form. They look identical for ru-verbs! Context is your best friend here. If the subject is doing the action, it's potential. If something is happening *to* the subject, it's passive.

You might know ~koto ga dekiru. This also means "can do." So, what is the difference? ~koto ga dekiru is like a tuxedo. It is formal, stiff, and very clear. It is great for official documents or speeches. ~られる is like your favorite pair of jeans. It is comfortable, versatile, and used in daily life. ~koto ga dekiru often focuses on the objective fact of possibility. ~られる feels more personal and direct. There is also the ~eru form for u-verbs. Remember, u-verbs change their last vowel to an 'e' sound. Ru-verbs are the ones that get the long rareru. Don't mix them up or you'll sound like a glitchy robot.